Azerbaijan.US
Across Baku and its surrounding areas, hundreds of residential buildings remain unfinished – a lingering problem that has left thousands of homebuyers without the apartments they paid for years ago.
According to reporting by Baku TV, many buyers completed payments long ago but never received their homes. In some cases, developers have been held legally accountable, yet the core issue remains unresolved for affected families.
Several construction projects were halted due to financial difficulties faced by developers. Others were launched on sites where older housing had been demolished, with residents promised new apartments and rental compensation during construction. In reality, many of those residents received neither permanent housing nor the promised rental payments.
Authorities say the issue has previously been addressed at the highest levels. In earlier years, a significant number of stalled projects were completed through state intervention and handed over to rightful owners. Officials now claim that only a limited number of problematic construction sites remain and that these will be completed by alternative developers in the near future.
However, there is no comprehensive public data on the exact number of unfinished residential buildings in Baku. Even so, a brief drive through the city reveals dozens of abandoned structures – visual reminders of a long-standing housing crisis.
Experts warn that unfinished buildings pose risks even if construction resumes. Years of exposure to weather and neglect can weaken structural integrity, raising concerns about long-term safety once residents move in.
For affected buyers, legal options are limited and often slow. Projects are typically abandoned due to bankruptcy, criminal proceedings against company executives, or developers simply disappearing from the market altogether. In many countries, international practice allows such properties to be auctioned off, offering incentives to new companies willing to complete construction and return apartments to their owners.
In several European states, developers face strict deadlines: if a building is not completed within five years, ownership automatically transfers to the state. In Azerbaijan, a special working group under the Ministry of Economy was established to monitor unfinished projects nationwide and propose solutions.
Legal experts argue that without clear statutory deadlines for completing construction – and enforceable penalties for violations – the problem of abandoned residential projects will continue, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the cost of failed developments.
